A Mother

Mother’s Day comes and goes every year and we all hear sermons about “What IS a Mother?” and we go home and we contemplate those things.  This year, I was surrounded by mothers.  My own mother, my aunt who is like a mother to me, both of my grandmothers, and although I wasn’t with my mother-in-law, she was on my mind as well. 

My maternal grandmother has been in bad health for about 2 years now.  Although she is sometimes confused, I know deep down she is still a mother…a mother who wrote this poem many years ago…

FOUR LITTLE GIRLS

“I sat at length, some days gone by, and pondered o'er the past.

Of how a richer life could I, have had fulfilled at last.

Four little footsteps followed me, as down life's path I tread

Four little footsteps, "Oh so dear" as days of life have sped.

I could not say that all I gave, was best for them I'm sure.

My faults were many, times were bad. Hardships I must endure.

God gave us each of them I know, to bless and keep our home.

I am not worthy of them now, as down life's path they roam.

They are not here, the years have passed. No child to soothe the pain,

of a little hurt that would not last; or of clothes wet with rain.

Those memories are so dear to me, as I think of "one another."

As I look now at them I see Four dears that call me "Mother"

I have their praise, their love their prayers, Their care and their protection.

As we now meet from time to time, they show their sweet affection.

Dear God you gave me "oh so much." I know I can't repay.

The joy you gave me is of such that lasts from day to day.

So thank you God, I say again, for four sweet smiling faces, that I look forward to each time; to hold in my embraces.”

I cry every time I read this poem.  My sweet grandmother has 4 daughters.  And although I know this Mother’s Day was a bittersweet day for them, I hope reading and remembering her love for each of them will bring them some peace and comfort. 

I have a mother who sacrificed her entire life to try to better my life.  She instilled the godly values and morals in my life that I hope to instill in my own children.  There is no greater gift a mother can give us! 

Proverbs 1:8 says, “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”

Thank you, Mom – for everything you’ve done for me. 

 

Last year, I made my mother a video for Mother’s Day.  I kept meaning to put it on here, but I forgot.  So – I’ll put it on here this year.  There’s no pictures of Walker, but it’s because he wasn’t here yet! 

Mother’s Day 2012 Video

As I’ve said many times before – I have another mother.    She is biologically my aunt, but I’ve always considered her an extension of my mother.  She has taught me faith.  Great faith!  She has endured many hardships in her life that would cause most people to become bitter and angry with God.  But she is just the opposite.  She has become even more compassionate, thoughtful, and loving.  I pray that I have just half of her strength in my life’s hardships.  She has always told Audra and me that we are “the right and left sides of her heart.” She is such an inspiration to me!

I also have to brag on my mother-in-law.  She treats me like I am her own daughter – and I appreciate that so much.  It’s been hard for me to live away from my family, and in the last few years I have taken comfort in knowing that I can go to her with anything.  I know one thing for sure – she raised a fantastic son who means the world to me!  I don’t have a picture of her from yesterday because we were out of town (and so was she!) so I’ll leave you with this one…

And as a mother myself, of 3 beautiful children, I have to say that I had a great Mother’s Day just being with them.  They are my heart.  I hope I get to have many, many more years with them.  They are my mission in life – to make sure they are in Heaven with me when the time comes! 

Don’t laugh.  If you can imagine, it’s seriously the best one out of about ten.  But it’s okay – they’re all in there! 

Happy Mother’s Day!!

Life Happens!

So, it’s been a LONG time since I actually made a “for real” blog post.  But I have a good excuse…life happened.  I’ve been insanely busy.  Usually that would be a lie and it would need to read “insanely lazy” but that hasn’t been the case the last few months.  I never really thought having 3 kids would really make life that much busier, but I was wrong!  Especially 3 little kids!  So – here’s the update on all of us.

Caroline is such a big girl.  She is my all the time helper.  She starts 4K in August and I don’t know what I will do without her.  We spent many nights praying and talking trying to decide whether or not to do 4K…but we ultimately decided she would absolutely LOVE it.  This will make her the youngest in her class (which we originally said we wouldn’t do) but we figure she can always repeat it and never know the difference if she lags behind.  She does well with her glasses and at her check up a couple of months ago, she was told she had to wear a patch for 2hrs/day for the next 8 months.  We were a little bummed at first, but it could be MUCH worse.  After a month or so she really adapted to it – and sometimes even ASKS for it!  She wrote her own name and Amelia’s name the other night.  She did hers without any spelling assistance, but needed help spelling Amelia’s.  But after we helped her spell it, she wrote it!  I was so proud!  She’s doing so well.  She also starts gymnastics in a week and she is BEYOND excited.  She’ll be in a class with her friend, Addie Jane so she can’t wait!  She had her first sleepover a few weekends ago with Addie Jane and it was so fun!  We ate pizza, played outside, then popped popcorn in our pjs and watched Rapunzel.  Then they slept in the top bunk together.  So cute.  We got a puppy a couple of months ago, Minnie, a miniature dachshund and Caroline is totally in love.  That about sums up Caroline.

First sleepover!

Amelia changes mentally every day.  She knows things that I didn’t think she knew.  When we were working with Caroline on writing names, I started writing random letters on the board and Amelia was calling them out AND telling me what sound they each made.  She didn’t miss a single one!  I was truly impressed because I didn’t know she knew all of that!  She still has some social issues, but they do seem better than they were 6 months ago.  She’s a lot better around family and kids that she sees often.  She’ll occasionally talk to strangers and say “Hi!” to them which she certainly wouldn’t have done 6 months ago.  She really just seems painfully shy.  But I was told that many moons ago, I was shy too.  She’ll grow out of it eventually.  She is somewhat of a diva princess.  She wants things done for her.  She wants you to hand her the cup that’s 2 inches in front of her, you to drive her around in the power wheels gator, you to push her on the swing, etc. She is so funny!  I’ve never seen a child eat ketchup with a spoon until Amelia came along.  GROSS.  But she absolutely loves it.

 

Amelia was NOT happy about the sprinkler being underneath the trampoline.  Caroline, on the other hand, was thrilled. 

Walker is nearly 9 months old!!!!  How did that happen?  He’s pulling up and crawling EVERYWHERE.  He eats a massive amount of food.  He’s cutting his first two teeth on the bottom.  One is punching through and the other is trying.  He’s taking it fairly well and really doesn’t complain with it much.  He is literally the happiest baby you’ll ever meet.  Nothing upsets him.  He is so chill.  He smiles if you meet eyes with him.  He loves to bounce up and down to music, his wubanubs, sleeping, eating, and his MAMA.  He is SUCH  a mama’s boy…and I’m totally fine with that.  I love it, actually.    He still takes 2 naps a day and goes to bed around 7:30-8p and sleeps until about 6:30-7:30am usually.  That would seem like I get a lot of sleep, but I’m usually dumb and stay up until around 1am and then kick myself all day the next day.

 

Pulling up for the first time!

I am BUSY with sewing!  I took a dress order recently and I got SO many orders.  I’ve been working hard to get them all completed!  Between occasionally taking care of my house (ha!), my kids, my business, and sometimes sleeping, there’s not much time for anything else…like, blogging, for example.  But I’m trying to catch up because I do *love* to go back and read my old blog posts to remind myself of what my days were like back when…

My whole world sitting on that couch!!

Judd is busy planting!  We’ve had weird spurts of rain all Spring, and that has made planting stretch out a little longer than usual – but it’s going!  Just about every time it gets dry enough to plant, it rains again.  But they’ve gotten a lot done in the last week or so and that has made everyone breathe a big sigh of relief.  He’s been getting home after the kids go to bed (and he leaves long before they get up) so they are missing him a lot right now!  Just a few minutes ago, Caroline said, “Mommy…I miss Daddy,” and just kept on coloring.  I’m thinking they may need a trip to ride on a tractor with him. 

Don’t let him fool you.  He’s a softie at heart…

Everybody staring at one tiny phone screen…

I hope you all have a blessed week! 

Happy 7 1/2 Months, Walker Man!

The time has flown.  More so than usual. I got behind, but it’s better late than never.  You are SO big.  You are 20lbs even, in 9m clothing (some 12m fits!) and you are crawling EVERYWHERE!  Once you got the hang of it, you were gone!  Your favorite thing to do is go after the new puppy’s water and food bowls and spill everything.  Then you smile that sweet smile and I don’t even get aggravated. 

You’re eating baby food once a day – but it isn’t always your favorite.  Some days you’re excited to eat it, other days you just don’t want it!

You’ve had a cold and a clogged tear duct in the last few weeks.  Awful!  The tear duct got infected – but since we’ve started the antibiotics, it has improved significantly.  I’m so glad because you always look so pitiful when you’re sick.  You definitely have allergies just like the rest of the family.

Your oldest sister LOVES taking her picture with you.  She’ll walk up and throw her arm around you and say, “Mama, can you take my picture with Baby Walker?”  She loves you!

You sleep through the night most nights, unless you’re not feeling well.  You can find your paci all by yourself in the crib and you put yourself back to sleep!  You *LOVE* the mobile in your crib, but we had to take it down because you can sit up by yourself now and you were pulling it down! 

You can sit up by yourself so well.  It has made things much easier.  You can go from being on your back to sitting up all by yourself!  It amazes me that you can do all of this already.  You’ve tried to pull up – unsuccessfully (whew!) but you’re definitely attempting.

You love:  Jumperoo, pacis (mainly the Wubanubs!), eating, your own bed, snuggling, being rocked, a cold wipe during diaper changes , and baths…at least until the washing up part, your sisters, Minnie’s dog bowls, & playing with Mommy & Daddy!

You dislike:  Being hungry or tired, most flavors of baby food (ha!),  being handed to someone else when you’re sleepy, staying up late, being SICK, and most of all – taking ANY form of medication, be it drops in your eyes or a syrup in your mouth!  ESPECIALLY if you have to be held down to take it.  Your sisters would both eventually give up and just let it happen.  You will fight tooth and nail and do not give up!  Just like a man!  Ha!

I have to say – you are the most chill, laid-back baby – ever.  You will just go anywhere and do whatever and you’re fine with it.  The only time you’re unhappy is when you’re tired or really hungry.  And really, who can blame you there?  You’re related to me!  You’ll probably never outgrow that, son.    You are so easy, it’s almost laughable.  I love my sweet Amelia, but it’s funny how difficult she was as a baby and how easy you are. 

You are the cutest, chubbiest, sweetest little boy on the planet…and I’m not saying that because I biased.    You are such a blessing to me.  You’re teaching me the difference between these drama queen girls and boys like you!  I can already see subtle differences!  I thank God for you and your sisters every night.  You are 1/3 of my heart, sweet boy.  I love you more than you know!

Mama

The Best Bundt Cake You’ll Ever Eat Recipe

So, my mom makes a KILLER bundt cake.  I’d venture out to say it’s the best thing she cooks.  It’s everyone’s favorite.  When we go to her house, she always has one for Judd, complete with strawberries & whipped cream. 

It’s the most moist, delectable cake…ever.  You might gain 5lbs from just looking at it.  But it’s worth it.  I promise. 

I’m a self diagnosed chocolate-chip-aholic.  I think chocolate chips can make ANYTHING taste better.  I add chocolate chips to boxed mixes that come with chocolate chips in them.  There’s never enough.  I add them to desserts and take out what they called for.  So, in true Kacie fashion, I added chocolate chips to this…and IT. IS. DIVINE.  You can add them or leave them out and use strawberries & whipped cream instead.  Totally your call.  But I looooooove the chocolate. 

The Perfect Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

You’ll need:

1. 1 Box of Moist Yellow Cake Mix
2. 1 Stick of Margarine (use REAL margarine!), melted
3. 1 Can Condensed Milk (I used the Eagle brand)
4. 3 Eggs
5. 1/2 Cup Water'
6. 1 Box French Vanilla Pudding Mix (NOT the cook & serve kind!)
7. 1 Bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (optional, but wonderful.)
8. About 1 cup of Flour (for rolling the chocolate chips)

Mix all of your ingredients except the chocolate chips & flour together.  I use a mixer because you don’t want any lumps.  It will be smooth, but a little thicker than your normal cake mix. 

In a separate bowl, add your flour and chocolate chips together.  Roll the chocolate chips in the flour.  Flour them until they look fairly white.  If you skip this step, all of your chocolate chips will sink to the bottom of your pan and it won’t cook correctly!  Do not skip this step!

After you’ve floured your chocolate chips, add them to the cake batter and mix.  Grease & flour or spray your bundt cake pan REALLY WELL.  I use Baker’s Joy.  Pour your mix in.  Pop it in the oven set to 325* for about an hour.  Mine took a little over an hour…about 1hr 15min – but check yours.  My mom swears that hers only takes 25min to cook, but at 25min, my cake was still pure batter.  I think she just has a crazy oven!  Don’t jiggle your cake around too often while checking it or it will sink and deflate.  I learned that the hard way.  Be easy taking it out to check it and try not to check it much. 

Lick the batter off the beater and the bowl.  You won’t be sorry.

When the toothpick comes out clean, take it out and let it cool about 5-10 min.  I put my cake plate on top of the pan then flip my pan over and pull my pan off.  And there it is.  Deliciousness just waiting for me to eat it.  Enjoy!

Refinished Cabinet

Well, in my blogging lapse I had forgotten all about updating you on my cabinet refinishing project. I know you were all waiting on pins and needles.  Well, wait no more my friends. 

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, I explained it in a previous post back in September of 2012. 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

(This picture reminded me that I need to touch up the old screws with the new color.   Also, the reason they don’t line up perfectly is because our crazy floor is *that* uneven.) Also, sorry this is in bold…it won’t let me “unbold” it.  Crazy computer.

It’s definitely not perfect…at all.  But I *love* the way it turned out – and I *love* the way it looks in my house.  It gives that wall a homey, comfy vibe – which I love.  I got to decorate it at Christmas and that was really fun! 

I am really proud of how it turned out. It was a SERIOUS labor of love. Judd didn’t believe me when I said that we could revamp that cabinet and turn it into something beautiful! Well, needless to say, I turned him into a believer! Although, I have to admit, he and I were both sick and tired of spending all of our free time working on it by the end. We finished it just a little before Thanksgiving. So it took us from September to November. With a newborn. Ha!  The hardest part was, by far, the sanding.  We sanded for a solid month.  We used stripping gel which made it easier, but it still took a long time to get in all the crevices.  There were lots of places that had to be sanded by hand and those took a while.  The painting actually didn’t take long at all.  We got a cheap paint sprayer and in about an hour I had the cabinet painted – inside and outside.  The doors took less time than that.  Then I cleaned the hardware thoroughly and spray painted it.  I loved the old hardware and couldn’t find anything like it – so we soaked it and scrubbed it until it was clean enough to paint.  I love the way it turned out.  Judd added the feet (from Lowes) after I stained them.  I stained the top in 3 coats.  *sigh*  It was a lot of work, but we feel like it was worth it. 

It’s decorated now like the “after” photos above.  It still needs some little knick knack type things but I’m trying not to buy the first thing I see so that I know I get what I want.  I know I want some old books to make the lamps taller.  I’m also thinking about some kind of pottery for a knick knack.  Any suggestions? 

The mirror and lamps came from consignment shop in town.  The mirror was actually a picture:

So I tore the paper off the back, took the picture out, spray painted the frame (the same color as the cabinet hardware) and had mirror cut to size.  That project took me about 30 minutes total.  The lamps were originally brass and were spray painted silver but I bought them that way…no work for me! 

It holds SO MUCH stuff.  Everything that I had in my china cabinet now fits on the top shelf.  So I’m basically using it as extra cabinet space to hold large platters, decorative kitchen/dining items, etc.  My china is also in there stacked up. 

So there you go.  The last project I’ll ever take on….HA!  Not really, but after I finally finished I vowed not to start another one for a long time!    I welcome any suggestions for decorating it!